As mentioned in the kick-off post for the 2015 Shiny Objects series, it’s no secret that I frequently have a handful of items I’m coveting related to technology.
Even as I work incredibly hard to reduce possessions in most facets of my life and continue to doggedly give away, consign or repurpose items we do not truly need, there are always a few tech tools on my wish list. I try to make smart investments in items that are well-made and equipped to go the long haul with me, and wherever possible I use digital replacements for physical items (i.e. magazine subscriptions, newspapers) or go the extra mile to find appropriate electronic recycling.
Speaking of which, a fly on the wall would have died of laughter during some of my recent interactions with the Best Buy Geek Squad to obsessively resuscitate and recycle some arcane technology… but that’s a story for another day.
With all that said, I’ve been lucky over the past few years to acquire some great tech tools, and there are several others on my covet list. When it comes to physical technology, here are a few favorites:
My Samsung NX300, a much-used equipment bag bought from an army surplus store in high school and my treasured copy of my grandmother’s 1929 National Geographic.
1. Samsung NX300 Wifi Camera with 18 – 55mm Lens
After years of coveting the sweet camera that my pal nwaFoodie totes around, I did tons of research over a period of about 12 months and finally splurged on this fabulous camera when a consulting job required higher quality photos to accompany content. I’m not ashamed to admit that I was on the hunt for a camera sporting the Hemingway-esque brown leather body style I had my heart set on while still meeting my tech specifications. In addition to wanting a wifi-enabled camera, a small but critical function of this camera for me is its ability to capture fast-action (8.5 frames per second) shots. As a mom, I’m constantly imploring my kids to “sit still” and “smile!” and “please, for the love, look at the camera!” This helps, because when I snap 8 shots in quick succession, there’s usually at least one winner in the mix.
Also: while this camera was definitely a splurge, I saved nearly $250 by doing my homework and literally lucking into finding it available via my local Best Buy store’s “open box and clearance items.” I kid you not: I had made the decision to purchase this exact item and was impatiently waiting for Best Buy to open one morning so I could walk right in and buy it, and decided to check their inventory (again) to make sure the exact model I wanted was available. Lo and behold, someone had returned an unused version with damaged packaging. I swooped in ten minutes after opening and took that bad boy home, and I have used and loved it for the past nine months.
I added this brown case from Amazon plus a gorgeous leather camera strap from the guys down at Fayetteville-based American Native Goods (read more about my affection for them here) and drove out of town for a writers’ retreat at the Hemingway-Pfeiffer Museum feeling very well equipped, indeed. I’ve been happy as a clam with this camera.
2. Fujitsu ScanSnap Evernote Edition Scanner
I am fully aware that the world needs me to shut up about Evernote, but I’m not going to do it. While a scanner of this magnitude might seem like an insane investment, it is an absolutely essential part of my everyday life – and quite a few of my co-workers now share my enthusiasm that we have access to it in our office.
In early 2009, one of my New Year’s Resolutions was to work toward a more paperless life. Ironically, at that time there were only a fraction of the tools available which we can now use to make the move to paperless. And, I’ve since learned that this isn’t the sort of thing you can accomplish in a year: nearly six years later I still fight daily battles with paper. The ScanSnap (via the Evernote Marketplace) helps me to make short work of the inevitable papers that do creep into my life. No matter how often I request that files be emailed to me, slideshow decks not be printed (oh, the irony) and our address removed from mailing lists, paper is still prolific. My co-workers laugh at me when they hand me a set of files and I promptly scan and return the documents to them to deal with… at least so far, they still laugh.
I take a few minutes at the end of every single work day to scan into Evernote and eliminate business cards, documents, contracts and anything else I can’t initially refuse. And if you’ve been living under a rock, read more about my obsession with Evernote here.
In 2010, my husband bought me my first Fitbit. I take far better care of them now and confess I’ve been through a couple, including the Fitbit Ultra and a brief but torrid affair with the Fitbit Force before it was recalled.
I truly believe there is no better fitness tracker, and I love the related app and website for food journaling and tracking activities. Fitbit was one of the first on the fitness tracker scene, and I’m incredibly devoted. Their handling of the aforementioned recall was enough to keep my loyalty strong. This year, I finally indulged (thanks to a gift card) in the Fitbit Aria scale, which I’ve been wanting for years. Yes, there is a theme here of having things on my wish list for years before allowing myself to take the leap. It builds character (or something like that…)
The Aria scale – like the One tracker – syncs wirelessly with my Fitbit account. Talk about motivation: there’s no cheating when you see those numbers. My Aria just arrived, and I’m fired up to jump into 2015 with some newfound excitement to get back a little closer to the shape I was in before Ainsley’s arrival four years ago. And, I’m not going to lie: I love when my Fitbit sends me a “Love ya, Bethany” missive. Thanks, Fitbit.
4. iRobot Roomba Vacuum Cleaner
Ok, I’m actually as surprised as anyone that this is on my list. My sister and I recently got a Roomba for our Mom for her birthday, but that felt legit because she has crippling arthritis in her hands which makes it painful to grip most things, from gas pumps to handles. We were riveted by the concept of the Roomba for her, but as fully functioning and healthy adults had it nowhere on our own radars.
So, we were pretty surprised that our Dad got a wild hair and purchased one for each of us for Christmas. Let me tell you, I don’t know why I resisted. My affection for the Roomba is actually less about the convenience factor of a robotic vacuum doing chores for me (at risk of having rotten tomatoes thrown at me, my husband has done the vacuuming for years… mainly because I simply don’t). What I’m loving is that the Roomba is so compact (it happily docks itself under a piece of furniture, as opposed to a typical vacuum taking up closet space), and it is the epitome of multi-tasking since the vacuuming can occur while we are doing something else (or not at home)! 100{cab58b9493bca9eccefbf3ae00ef5a3add1991efca1fb728a890b19984c3cc67} converted fan of something I previously viewed as pointless.
My Wish List
Ok, the truth… here are the goods catching my attention:
- Tory Burch for Fitbit – while I’m not proud, I have a deep-seated desire for the silver bracelet.
- Nest – Dear Nest Protect and Nest Thermostat: please come visit my 1905 home STAT.
- Eton Ruckus or Bose SoundLink – Received first Eton product 2011. Craving Ruckus since January 2012 debut. My sister purchased it for my husband for Christmas. I die, but of course do not begrudge.
- Bose headphones – I’d love to be happy with some basic in-ear headphones, but I need these.
- Smart locks. I need them. Why is this item not hyperlinked? Because the jury is out, my friends. I live in a 109 year old house, and there is no door in our house with a key which matches another. To say we need new locks is an understatement, but by God I’m waiting for the Phoenix of smart locks, and I’m 100{cab58b9493bca9eccefbf3ae00ef5a3add1991efca1fb728a890b19984c3cc67} certain my decision will be based on the choice of Schuyler Towne.
- Smart bulbs. That is all. Someday, I will buy a Phillips Hue bulb to last me for posterity and light my room from afar prior to my arrival.
Dismounting soapbox. Where did you/will you splurge? What do you covet?
